By: Joan DiPiero
Most people have a story to tell: a sci-fi adventure, gothic romance or true crime yarn yearning to burst forth onto the pages of a book. But taking time to begin the process is a challenge.
Every November, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, celebrates the Hemingway in everyone. The movement encourages writers to stay on task and complete an entire novel in one month. While this is a rather ambitious goal, College of DuPage English and creative writing professor Trina Sotirakopulos suggests that committing to a chapter a month is possible, with a little help from your friends.
“It is important to sit and work on your craft,” she said. “Like playing an instrument, it takes practice. You need to create a structure for yourself, stick to a timeline and write. But it also takes a community of people who can keep you accountable and help you stay focused.”
Published under her pen name Trina Sotira, the professor and author has received international recognition for her young adult novel, “In Her Skin: Growing Up Trans,” and co-authored two award-winning anthologies, all while teaching college courses and working on her doctorate. To make it work, Sotirakopulos connected with a group of fellow writers through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Although this is not her genre, it helps to get feedback from different audiences.
Yes, write what you know, but writers must also do research. If you don’t find ‘that’ story out there, write that story.
Trina Sotirakopulos
“Having a critique group is important,” notes Sotirakopoulos. “We turn in a chapter a month. We critique each other’s work, provide input and notes.”
She suggests novice writers do the same, urging students to find people who will challenge them to continue working, critique chapters and offer support and ideas. Another way to get that novel written is to join a class. Sotirakopulos teaches COD courses that lead to a certificate in creative writing. The five-course sequence begins with an introduction to creative writing and includes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and screenwriting, with complementing coursework in writing for publication and a market-driven class in writing for the film industry.
Sotirakopulos acknowledges that everyone’s writing journey is different and suggests taking advantage of COD continuing education classes to begin your creative trek.
“Mardelle Fortier offers a course in memoir writing as well as a writing workshop that has produced publisher novelists, including Shelby Van Pelt, author of the bestseller ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures.’”
National Novel Writing Month can spark that creative fire, whether it is 10 minutes or 10 hours, a continuing education class or a certificate course. Sotirakopulos also urges writers to get out of their own style “box” and read other works.
“Yes, write what you know, but writers must also do research,” she explained. “If you don’t find ‘that’ story out there, write that story. Try different genres, write poetry, read mythology and historical fiction. Research ideas and cultures and read other’s works. Study the craft.”